Process and apparatus for dry separation of the elements composing a mass



Oct. 19, 1926. 7 1,603,997

H. M. SUTTON ET AL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRY SEPARATION OF THE ELEMENTS COMPOSING A MASS Filed August 15, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 19, 1926. 1,603,997

H. M. SUTTON ET AL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRY SEPARATION OF THE ELEMENTS COMPOSING A MASS Filed August 15, 1923 5 Sheets-SReet 2 :N, Mil/aw $5. 611M Oct. 19 1926. 1,603,997

H. M. SUTTON ET AL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRY SEPARATION OF THE ELEMENTS GOMPOSING A MASS Filed August 15, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 19,1926. 1,603,997

' H. M. SUTTON ET AL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRY SEPARATION OF THE ELEMENTS COMPOSING A MASS Filed August 15, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 19 1926. 1,603,997

H. M. SUTTON ET AL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRY SEPARATION OF THE ELEMENTS COMPOSINGA MASS Filed August 15, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 54 Patented Oct. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,603,997 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY MOORE SUTTON, WALTER LIVINGSTON STEELE, AND EDWIN GOODWIN STEELE, 0F DALLAS, TEXAS.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRY SEPARATION OF THE ELEMENTS COMPOSING A MASS.

Application filed August 15, 1923. Serial No. 657,566.

This invention relates to the process and apparatus for dry separation of the elements composing a mass, and it pertains to certain improvements in the process, and in the formation of the separating deck for carrying out the process.

This invention is an improvement upon our prior patent-sand pending applications, which are exemplified, for instance. in Patents Nos. 7 97,293 dated August 15th, 1905; 898,020 dated September 8th, 1908; 979,046 dated December 20th, 1910; 1,073,644 dated September 23rd, 1913; 1,133,? 60 dated March 30th, 1915; and 1,315,881 dated September 9th, 1919.

In all of the foregoing patents, we utilized a reciprocating table having a thrust action in a direction towards the delivery end of the table. In these patents the inclinations of the said table is adjustable to suit the various kinds of material acted on, and the speed of reciprocation is alsoadjustable through a suitable speed change gearing. Also in these patents an air chamber is located under the table and air is fed through the separating deck and acts upon the mass of material being separated. All of the foregoing features are preferably used in the present invention. A

The process practiced by the foregoing patents, crudely stated, is by the combined effect of the a r-cushion, the longitudinal thrust, and the action of gravity throughoutthe Whole table.

()ur present improvement while capable of separating, cleaning, etc. the elements composing a mass of different kinds of material, is especially intended for the use in the separation and cleaning masses of coal.

The primary object of our improved process is .to wholly or substantially prevent the lateral movement of the heavier elements of ,the material by gravity at the feed end of the deck, and gradually increase the lateral movement by gravity until the delivery end of the table of the deck is reached, where the full effect of lateral movement by gravity is obtained. This process differs from our patents, wh ch provide for a uniform lateral movement of the material by gravity throughout the deck.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the table that the material being separated passes over it in step formation,

which is found to have the special advantages in the separation of the elements composing a mass of coal products.

A furtherv object of the invention is to form the surface of the deck into longitudinally extending step formation, whereby the particles composing the mass, and more particularly the heavier elements, fall from one step to another in their passage along the deck, depending upon their relative heavier specific gravity or shape.

Another object of the invention is to form the floor of the separating deck into longitudinally extending step formation, the steps gradually decreasing in depth from the feeding side or end to the delivery side or end of the deck. This construction is, eflective in stopping or substantially stopping the flow of the heavier particles of the mass by gravity at the feed side of the table, and to gradually remove the stopping effect and gradually permit the lateral gravity feed of the elements until the delivery side of the table is reached where the obstruction to the gravity feed is entirely removed, and where the gravity action has its full efiect.

A further object of the present invention is to perforate thevertical rise of the steps, whereby a cross-blast of air is effected at each step which materially assists in the separation of the particles composing the mass.

Further objects ofthe invention will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of a table embodying our improvement.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of one form of the separating deck embodying the said improvement.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of another form of separating deck, embodying the said improvement.

Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of a portion of the separating deck, the floor being shown in stepped formation.

Fig. 5 is a modified form of the table constructed to have the step action.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the separating deck shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view through the deck, on the line AA of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view. through the deck, on the line B-B of Figs. 2 and 3.

views of a sectional deck, the views being taken respectively on lines A, B and C of Figs. 2 and 3. 1

Referring now to the drawings, in carrying out ourpresent improvement, we have a deck frame or formation 1, to the lower side of which is connected an air-passage 2, which has its opposite end provided with means for feeding air to the deck. The deck .is suitably supported upon rockers 3, and

rovided with suitable springs 4. The dec is reciprocated by means of a rod 5, operatively connected with an eccentric 6, which is driven by a suitable speed change device 7. All of the foregoing parts will be of the constructions set forth in our aforesaid patents and need not be further de-- scribed.

Our present improvement is in the process, and the formation of the deck 8. Our

present improvement may be applied to a separating deck of any form or shape and we have shown two shapes in Figs. 2 and 3, but desire it to be understood that other shapes of separating deck may be used without'departingfrom the spirit and scope of our present invention.

Our present improvement is in so constructing the deck of the pneumatic table in a shape which will provide a series of "steps, which extend longitudinally of the deck and are arranged in succession across the deck.

By referring to pFigs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the table reciprocates lengthwise of the steps 9, and that narrow rifiles 10 are located between the steps. The deck is preferably composed of a perforated sheet. It is desired that it be understood, however, that it may be provided with the refinements specified in our said patents and still involve our improvement. As here shown,

however, for simplicity it consists only of a perforated sheet.

We have herein shown several formations, but in each of them we provide the step action,,whereby our improvement is carried out.

For the purpose of explaining the invention, we will refer to Fig. 4, wherein is shown the gradually reduced height of the step, though Fig. 4 shows the deck in sectio'ns, which is a special form.

By reference to this figure it will be observed that the deckis composed of a series of steps and that these steps succeed each other transverse the table or deck. Attention is directed to the fact that at the feed end 11 of the deck, the steps are made deep- Y est and that they gradually decrease in height from the end 11 and disappear at 12, which is the delivery side 13 of the deck. It will thus be observed that these steps being deepestat the delivery side of the table,

gradually decrease in height until they merge into the plane portion 13. at the delivery side of the deck. Located between the 3 illustrated for one form of the deck in Figs.

7, 8 and 9; another form in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, and in' another form in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, the said figures being taken through the deck on the lines A, B and C of Figs. 2 and 3, irrespective of the manner of forming the step construction. The construction of deck shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is the sectional formation shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the form of deck consists of the perforated plate 15, which is placed at an inclination and the deck is provided with the step portions 16, the step action being shown by dotted line 17. 'It will thus be observed that instead of having the steps formed directly in the deck, they are-formed by projections 16, which gradually reduce in height from the feed to the delivery side of the separating deck. .By reference to Fig. 6, the step formation is clearly illustrated by the dotted line 17. In this construction, there is provided two rifiles 18 and 19 between the steps 16. Whether the steps be formed in the manner shown in Figs. 5 and 6, or in the manner shown in the other figures of the drawings, the operation will be substantially the same. In the construction shown in Fig. 4-, the floor 20 and the'riser 10' are made of asingle piece, the rear portion 21 of the body of the step interlocking with a U-shaped bend 22, formed on the bottom of the riser 10 of the step. In this construction. the riser 10 is provided with perforations as well as the body portion 20, whereby air fromthe air-chamber is forced upward through the perforations of the body 20 and are forced horizontally forward through the riserportion 10', across the said deck, the function of which will be re ferred to hereinafter. In this step formation the height of the riser portion 10 is increased b'y'a ritlle 23 extending vertically substantially above the riser 10'. In this case it will be observedthat the riser portion 10' is perforated,'and th'e ritlle 23 is imperforate' I 1 gravity at the feed side of the I .60" Each step' of V In Figs. and12, inclusive, we show another form of deck for carrying out our in vention- In this instance, we form the deck of a perforated plate 24, which has formed 5. in itthesteps 25, and the steps are made deepest at the feedend of the deck and disappear at the delivery end of the deck. In

this case, theperforated metal has the risers 26 also perforated, and is provided with the intermediate riflies 27, and with the riflies 28 in substantially a line with the risers of the steps.

All of these constructions operate to substantially destroy the lateral movement by deck, while the lateral gravity movement has full action at the delivery side of-the deck, and the gravity action increasing from the feed side to the delivery side of the deck.

In the construction which are located in substantially a line with the riser 10, serve to stop the gravity flow transverse the table at the feed side, and these riflles gradually decrease in height 2 until they disappear just.before reaching the delivery side of the deck. I

. Immediately at the feed end the gravity flow is positively stopped, but the gravity flow will gradually increase towards the dea0 livery end of the deck.

In Figs. 7 8, and 9, the deck is supported upon suitable ribs 29 that. extend lengthwise o the table. At the delivery side 30 (Fig.- 7) the deck is in a smooth plane, butfrom that point towards the feed side of'the table, it is formed in steplike shape, the floors 31 of the steps being perforated as shown. In this construction, the risers 32 are not perforated, and in thatevent the feature of the cross-blastof air is omitted. The floor 31, however, is provided with riflies 33 and 34, which act in this construction as described in the other constructions. In operation, the material to be separated is fed into .the feed hopper 35 and it immediatelv flows bygravitv to the deck surface, where it is acted uponin the. pr..- ferred form by three forces, as follows: let, an ascending air-pressure; 2nd, a positive thrust in a direction away from the feed side lengthwise of thedeck, and 3rd, a movement by gravity crosswise of the deck. As the v deck is agitated, this gravity movement is zero to the elements which are upon or immediately above the deck surface, and ofconsiderable force to the raised above the-tops of theriflles the ascending air; There is no gravity feed of the elements at the feed side ofthe deck.

the. deck surface will, therefore. interrupt'the lateral movement of'the heavier elements which seep through the mass of materialon the deck surface, but will, not interrupt the, lateral movementof elements which are .65 the lighter' elements forming the upper shown, the rifiies 23,

Strata of the material beinghandled. The heavier elements will, therefore, be projected awav from the. feed bythe agitation of'the deck lengthwise of the deck,'while the lighter elements are moving cross-wise of the deck, the foregoing action being rapid at each of the steps until the heavier elements are effectively separated from the lighter elements, at which time the lighter elements may reach the floor of the steps when they will be propelled lengthwise of the deck until they reach a point on its decreased step surface Where the decreased heightof the riifle'and the increased angle of inclination forces them totake up their proper lateral movement. In the operation of the deck, n handling particles of large size, the deck construction shown in Figs. 10 to 11,- and 13 to 14, will be used, the construction of which provides the additional crossblastof air through the risers. This lateral movement ofthe air facilitates the lateral travel of the lighter elements and the regulation will'be such as to trap a particle of the heavier elements in order'to force it forward to the discharge end of-the deck, while the cross-blast of air, together with the crowding action of the multiplicity of particles will move the lighter elements cross wise of the deck.

Ia the operation of a machine embodying the improvements, particularly in cleaning coal, which may carry thin slivers of refuse material, the flat pieces of bone or slate, although having a water specific gravity than coal, float on t e upper surface of the coal-bed, because of their shape, as they ride on the air above'the coal and pass off the .deck with the coal product. This new deck of the step construction destroys this continuous movement of the slivers by gravity at the feed end of the deck, thus preventing the continuous lateral movement of such fiat particles and cause them to tip edge-wise of the ascending air at each step. This action allows the heavier elements to bed themselves below the lighter coal elements, and'thus be propelled length-wise to their proper discharge point at thedischarge side of the deck. The foregoing is one of the many advantages in operation of. our improved deck construction.

As our decks are preferably constructed of perforated'metal, the risers of the steps are pervious to air, which gives a blast at each step, flowing cross-wise the deck in a direction towards the lowe'r discharge side, and as these steps gradually de creasev in height towards the discharge end of the deck, a strong air-blast is provided crossat the feed end of thedeck. which gradually.

diminishes to nothing at the discharge end of the deck. When it is borne in mind that the table declines from the fee-d end. the step constructign provides a series of flat surfaces at the feed end, which gradually merge into an inclined surface at the discharge end, plus a lateral air-blast which has its full force at the feed end anddiminishing to nothing at the discharge end.

The table will be adjusted to an angle which makes the steps substantially horrzontal, while they decrease in height and out steps. Of course, it will be understood that the angle of a tablewill vary, according to the characteristics of the material being handled.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved process for separating the elementsof amass, which consists in subjecting said mass to .aplurality of successive horizontal step by step separations and simultaneolisly reciprocating the mass in a direction longitudinal the said step separation.

2. The process of separating the elements of amass whi h consists in floating the said mass upon successive horizontal separated air cushions arranged in successive step by step formation and simultaneously reciproeating the said mass in a direction longitudinal the length of the step by step formation.

3. The process of separating the elements of a mass, which consists in floating the mass upon an. upwardly acting substantially continuous air-cushion, obstructing the gravity. flow of the elements at the point of feeding, subjecting the said mass 'to a crosscurrentof air at the feeding point, and removing the obstruction and the'cross-current of air at the delivery point.

4. The process ofseparatingthe elements of a mass, which consists in fioatingsaid mass upon horizontal separated step by step air cushions and gradually merging said separated step by step separation nto a substantially flat separation-at the discharge of said elements.

15. An improved reciprocating deck for dry separators, comprising means for reciprocating the deck, the deck having a pervious floor forming a continuous air cushion and provided with step-like members extending longitudinal the direction of the reciprocation ofthe deck, to operate as described.

6. An improved deck for dry separators having a pervious'floor forming a continuous air cushion, the said deck having longitudinally arranged step-like members'which are deepest at their feed end of the machine and disappear at the delivery end of the machine.

7. An improved separating deck for dry separators having a perviousfloor forming a continuous air cushion, the deck comprising a step-likeformation atthe feed end, the said steps disappearing at the beginning of the delivery end of the deck.

8. An improved deck for dry separators having a pervious floor forming a continuous air cushion, the deck having step-like arrangements which extend longitudinally -of the-deck,.the said steps being deeper at the feed end and gradually decreasing in 'height to the delivery end.

9. An improved separating deck for dry separators having a pervious floor forming a continuous air cushion, comprising a deck having a' plurality of horizontal surfaces at its feed end, said surfaces disappearing into an inclined delivery end.

10. An improved deck for dry separators having a pervious floor forming a continuous air cushion, the deckcomprisi'ng a plurality of longitudinal steps which gradually decrease in height from the feed end to the beginning of the delivery end, for the purpose described. I

11. An improved reciprocating deck for dry separators having a pervious floor forming a continuous air-cushion, the deck comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending steps, said stepsha'ving longitudi nally extending riflies, said steps and riflies extending in a line with the reciprocation of the deck, for the purpose described.

1 12. An improved reciprocating separating deck for dry separators having a per- I vious floor forming a continuous air cushion, the deck comprising a plurality of longitudinaly extending steps, the said steps consisting of perforated metal, and the riffies mounted upon the metal, said steps and riflles extending in a direction longitudinal the reciprocation, for the purpose described.

13. Animproved deck for dry separators having a pervious floor Gus air cushion, the 'sai a plurality of longitudinally extending pervious steps connected by pervious risers whereby the air acts for'the purpose described.

, 14. An improved deck for dry separators having a pervious floor forming a continu-- ous air cushion, comprising a perforated sheet shaped into a plurality of longitudinally extending steps,.t he said steps decreasing in height from the feeding end to the forming a continudelivery end, the delivery end being'jnclined.

15. A separating deck for dry separators I having a pervious floor forming a .continu} ous. air. cushion, a deckflcomprising a plurality of step like formationsbeginnin'g at'the. feed end and disappearing at"jth. delivery end, said steps ha ingjvert ically extending rifiles located}at' tlieiredgei.

16. 'An improved d c1; l'fo'r 'dfy' separators d-- deck comprisin-g w ios , appearing at the delivery end of the deck ous air cushion, the deck comprising a plurality of step-shaped formations, the said steps being deepest at the feed end and dis- 7 verticallyextending riflies located substantially at the front edges of the steps, and riflies located between the front and rear edges of the steps.

17. An improved deck for dry separators 1 having a pervious floor forming a cont-inu- In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix 15 our signatures.

HENRY MOORE SUTTON. WALTER LIVINGSTON STEELE. EDWIN GQODWIN STEELE. 

